Back-Cleansing Unit

ABSTRACT

An automatic back-cleansing apparatus for fixing to a vertical bath or shower surface includes a main housing section having a rotating head receiving section with gear teeth for engaging rotating heads on a rotating disk section adjacent the main housing section. The rotating disk section includes a drive shaft attached to a first drive gear and each rotating head includes a second drive gear engaging the gear teeth. Each of the rotating heads includes an interchangeable brush configured for removable fixation on a mushroom shaped projection torsionally coupled to the second drive gear, and a reservoir disposed in the main housing section dispenses a liquid soap onto at least one of the rotating heads.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of the priority filing date of international application number PCT/IB2015/058496, entitled “A Back Cleansing Unit,” which was filed on 3 Nov. 2015, and which claims the benefit of the priority filing date of British domestic application no. GB1419600.0, filed 3 Nov. 2014.

BACKGROUND

The invention relates to a back-cleansing unit or apparatus for attaching to the side wall of a shower or bath.

Showering is a daily activity for most people. Most body parts can be cleaned easily because they are within the reach of the showering person. However, one body part that has been traditionally difficult to reach, and thus, to wash, is the back. As a result, this part of the body is not generally cleansed as well as the rest of the body.

There are various devices commercially available to remedy this problem. Most common is the use of a hand-held back washer which is usually a brush on the end of a stick or other such handle. This device however, is insufficient to provide a thorough cleaning of the back because it is manually operated. Another method of cleaning the back has involved the use of a detachable showerhead. Again, this device needs to be manually operated. Devices for attaching to the side of a shower wall are also known. However, these devices can be very complex to install and operate.

The present invention provides an improved means of reaching and cleansing the back area.

SUMMARY

According to the invention there is provided a back-cleansing unit, comprising: a housing section; a head receiving section; wall mounting means; and power producing means; wherein the head receiving section comprises gear teeth to engage with a plurality of rotating heads on a rotating disk section. In one embodiment of the invention the rotating disk section comprises a drive shaft attached to a drive gear.

In one embodiment of the invention the housing section is molded and comprises integrally molded or separately mounted gear teeth for engagement with the drive gear on the rotating heads.

In one embodiment of the invention when the rotating disk section rotates in a clockwise direction the rotating heads rotate in a clockwise or counter clockwise direction.

In one embodiment of the invention the rotating heads are interchangeable and comprise any one or more of rotating brushes, exfoliation heads, massage heads and/or applicator heads. Most preferably each rotating disk comprises six interchangeable rotating heads.

In one embodiment of the invention the rotating head comprises a brush carrier section comprising a central mushroom shaped projection, a flat plate section and an elongated stem section which engages with the drive gear. Preferably the interchangeable brush head is of an elastic material and attaches to the brush carrier section by stretching over the central mushroom shaped projection.

In one embodiment of the invention the power producing means comprises motors with integrated gearboxes mounted on an integrated frame at the rear of the housing section. Preferably the integrated gearbox reduces the speed of the motor from high to low.

In one embodiment of the invention the power producing means may be driven by any one or more of an electric motor, hydraulic motor, pneumatic motor and/or wind-up/spring mechanism.

In one embodiment of the invention the power producing means comprises an electric motor powered by a battery located in a watertight housing in a lower part of the housing section. In one embodiment of the invention the back-cleansing unit comprises user controls mounted on the outside of the unit to control the unit. In one embodiment of the invention the gear ratio is adjustable to set the speed of the rotating disk sections and the plurality of rotating heads.

In one embodiment of the invention the back-cleansing unit comprises a soap reservoir in an upper part of the housing section to dispense liquid soap, gel or cream down onto the plurality of rotating heads.

In another embodiment of the invention soap is dispensed through the rotating heads.

In one embodiment of the invention the mounting means comprises suction cups for attaching the housing section to the wall of a shower or bath. Alternatively, the mounting means may comprise fixings for permanently fixing the housing section to the wall of a shower or bath.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of the back-cleansing unit according to the invention;

FIG. 2 illustrates a perspective view of the back-cleansing unit according to the invention showing removable components at the upper and lower end of the unit;

FIG. 3 illustrates a perspective view of the rear of the back-cleansing unit;

FIG. 4 illustrates a perspective view of the rotating disk section of the back-cleansing unit;

FIG. 5 is a partial enlarged view of the brush carrier section;

FIG. 6 is a partial exploded view of the brush carrier section;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a brush section of a brush carrier section according to another embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a brush carrier of a brush carrier section according to another embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a mushroom-shaped projection of a brush carrier section according to another embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 10 is an exploded view of a brush carrier section according to another embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the rear of the rotating disk section of FIG. 4;

FIG. 12 is a partial enlarged view of the rear of the receiving section of the back-cleansing unit according to the invention;

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of the receiving section of the back-cleansing unit of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 14 is an enlarged partial perspective view of the receiving section of the back-cleansing unit of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following description is presented to enable any person skilled in the art to make and use the invention, and is provided n the context of a particular application and its requirements. Various modifications to the disclosed embodiments will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the general principles defined herein may be applied to other embodiments and applications without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Thus, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments shown, but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and features disclosed herein.

The back-cleansing unit of the present invention is an electrically powered unit that is fixed to the wall of a shower cubicle or bath to allow people to effectively wash their backs while showering or bathing. The unit may be detachably attached to the wall of a shower using suction cups or it may be permanently fixed to the wall using any suitable fixing means.

As shown in FIG. 1 the unit 10 comprises a main housing 12 and two receiving sections 14 for receiving two rotating disk sections 16. Each rotating disk section 16 carries a plurality of rotating heads 18, preferably seated in depressions 19 on the rotating disk section 16. The rotating heads 18 are interchangeable and may comprise any one or more of a rotating brush, exfoliation head, massage head and/or applicator head for applying moisturizing cream or fake tan or any other products of a liquid or gel nature that the user would like to apply to the skin. Each rotating disk section 16 preferably comprises six interchangeable rotating heads 18.

The rear of the main housing 12 as shown in particular in FIG. 3 has an integrated base frame 20 for engaging with suction cups 22 which allow the unit 10 to be detachably mounted to a shower or bath wall (not shown). Alternatively the base frame 20 accommodates fixings for permanently fixing the unit 10 to the side of a shower/bath wall. The upper end of the main housing 12 has receiving means 24 for a refillable liquid soap, gel or cream reservoir 26. The lower end of the main housing 12 has a watertight compartment 28 for holding a battery 30 to power the unit 10.

The rotating disk sections 16 comprising the rotating heads 18 are mounted on a shaft 32 preferably engaging stainless steel ball bearings (not shown). The shaft 32 is connected to a first drive gear 34 inside the main housing 12. The first drive gear 34 engages each shaft 32 to rotate with the rotating disk sections 16 and the rotating heads 18. The main housing 12 is molded and the receiving sections 14 have integrally molded or separately mounted gear teeth 36 for engagement with a second drive gear 38 on each of the rotating heads 18. The gear ratios may be adjusted by changing the size of the first drive gear 34 and second drive gears 38 and thus the relative speed of the rotating disk sections 16 and the rotating heads 18. The speed of rotation of the rotating heads 18 can be changed either by means of fitting new gears (not shown) with different gear ratios or using an electrical motor controller (not shown) to adjust the speed of the drive motor 40. Such a motor controller may be used to cause the gears to rotate in a counter clockwise direction or to reciprocate between clockwise and counter clockwise rotation. In one embodiment such a motor controller may be a printed circuit board mounted inside the main housing 12 and connected to an on/off switch. The rotating disk sections 16 preferably rotate in a clockwise direction, causing the rotating heads 18 to also rotate in a clockwise direction.

The rotating heads 18 comprise a brush carrier section 42 which is connected to each second drive gear 38 on the rear of the rotating heads 18. In one embodiment as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the brush carrier section 42 comprises a central first mushroom shaped projection 44, a flat plate section 46 and a first elongated stem section 48 which engages the second drive gear 38. Interchangeable brushes 50 with a first central opening 52 are attached to the brush carrier section 42 by pressing the first mushroom shaped projection 44 through the first central opening 52 on an interchangeable brush 50. The interchangeable brushes 50 are preferably manufactured from silicon and the first central opening 52 is capable of stretching over the first mushroom shaped projection 44 for easy attachment and removal. Two flattened surfaces 54 on either side of the first central opening 52 of the interchangeable brush 50 prevents any relative movement between the interchangeable brush 50 and the carrier section 42.

In another embodiment of the invention as shown in FIGS. 7-10, a second mushroom shaped projection 56 is a separate unit that has four keys 58 that engage corresponding complimentary keys 60 on a second central opening 62 on an interchangeable brush 50 to lock both components together. A second elongated stem section 64 of the second mushroom shaped projection 56 then locks into a carrier plate 66 and engages with the second drive gear 38. As the interchangeable brushes 50 rotate, the direction of motion ensures that the connection becomes tighter as more pressure is placed on them. To remove the interchangeable brushes 50 in such an embodiment, the user simply rotates the interchangeable brush 50 and associated second mushroom shaped projection forty five degrees counter clockwise and the interchangeable brush 50 and second mushroom shaped projection 56 lift away from the carrier plate 66.

The first drive gear 34 is integrated with a small low voltage DC high torque drive motor 40. The integrated first drive gear 34 and drive motor 40 are mounted on the base frame 20 on the rear of the main housing 12. The speed of the drive motor 40 may be reduced through the use of the integrated gear box 68 which reduces the speed but not the torque of the drive motor 40. The integrated gearbox 68 is connected to each shaft 32, and the drive motor 40 may be an electric motor, hydraulic motor, pneumatic motor and/or wind-up/spring mechanism.

In the illustrated embodiment, the power producing means is an electric drive motor 40 powered by a sealed battery 30 located within a watertight compartment 28 in the lower end of the main housing 12. Preferably the compartment 28 is a plastic housing used for housing the battery 30 in the lower end of the main housing 12. The battery 30 can easily be removed for charging by removing it from the watertight compartment 28. The battery 30 or other power producing means is controlled and operated by a switch on the outside of the main housing 12.

When the rotating heads 18 are brushes, a reciprocating brush drive mechanism can be used to produce the effect of a massage. Preferably the back-cleansing unit 10 has a detachable liquid soap reservoir 26 in an upper part of the main housing 12, and the detachable liquid soap reservoir 26 operates using a pump action mechanism 70. When pumped, liquid soap (not shown) is dispensed down onto the rotating heads. Alternatively the soap may be dispensed directly through a nozzle (not shown) in each of the brush heads using an electrically operated dosing pump integrated into the housing and controlled from a dosing button on the outside of the cover.

The back-cleansing unit 10 is easy to install. It is also easy to detach from the suction cups 22 or other permanent wall fixings in order to thoroughly clean all the components of the unit 10.

The foregoing descriptions of embodiments of the present invention have been presented only for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the present invention to the forms disclosed. Accordingly, many modifications and variations will be apparent to practitioners skilled in the art. Additionally, the above disclosure is not intended to limit the present invention. The scope of the present invention is defined by the appended claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. An automatic back-cleansing apparatus for fixation on a vertical surface, the apparatus comprising: a main housing section; a rotating head receiving section on the main housing section; wall mounting means on the main housing section; and a power producing means, wherein the rotating head receiving section comprises gear teeth engaging a plurality of rotating heads, each of the plurality of rotating heads disposed on a rotating disk section adjacent the main housing section.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the rotating disk section comprises a drive shaft attached to a first drive gear.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the main housing section is of unitary molded construction and wherein the gear teeth engage at least one second drive gear on the plurality of rotating heads.
 4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the gear teeth are molded separately from the main housing section and are installed therein.
 5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the rotating disk section rotates in a clockwise direction and the plurality of rotating heads rotates in a clockwise direction.
 6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the rotating disk section is configured to rotate in a clockwise direction and the plurality of rotating heads is configured to rotate in a counterclockwise direction.
 7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the plurality of rotating heads are interchangeable, comprising a feature selected from the list of rotating brushes, exfoliation heads, massage heads and applicator heads.
 8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the plurality of rotating heads comprises six interchangeable rotating heads in each rotating disk section.
 9. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising an elastic interchangeable brush configured to stretch over a first central mushroom shaped projection attached to a first plate section, the first plate section engaging one of the plurality of the rotating heads.
 10. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein each of the plurality of rotating heads comprises a brush carrier section, the brush carrier section comprising a second mushroom shaped projection, a carrier plate engaging one of the plurality of the rotating head.
 11. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the power producing means comprises a drive motor with integrated gearbox mounted on the main housing section.
 12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the integrated gearbox reduces the speed of the plurality of rotating heads.
 14. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the power producing means comprises a drive motor selected from the list of electric motor, hydraulic motor, pneumatic motor and wind-up spring mechanism.
 15. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the power producing means comprises an electric drive motor powered by a battery located in a watertight compartment in a lower part of the main housing section.
 16. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a user control mounted on the main housing to control the power producing means.
 17. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising an adjustable gear ratio configured to set the speed of the rotating disk sections and the plurality of rotating heads.
 18. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a reservoir disposed in the main housing section configured to dispense a liquid soap onto at least one of the plurality of rotating heads.
 19. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a reservoir in the main housing section configured to dispense liquid soap through at least one of the plurality of rotating heads.
 20. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the wall mounting means comprises suction cups for attaching the main housing section to the vertical surface. 